Crossing the Threshold: Entering Spaces as Queer Students of Color

Lauren L. Adams and Nicole M. Bravo

Michigan State University

INTRODUCTION FINDINGS CONNECTIONS TO THEORY

The queer students of color in this study often talked about how they had to decide which aspects Self-Authorship (Baxter Magolda, 2001)
There are many theories that focus on the Participants were at varying points in their
of their identities they could show in a space. Their decisions were ultimately determined by their
racial, ethnic, and sexual identity journeys toward self-authorship (Evans, Forney,
perception of how safe environments were and by the people who existed in those spaces. The
development of college students. Guido, Patton, & Renn, 2010). We found that
door in the model represents an entryway to the multiple environments and contexts that queer
However, there are no college student Baxter Magoldas (2001) theory does not account
students of color navigate daily. While some students refused to leave one of [their] identities at
development theories that focus intently for individuals who may have reached self-
the door, others did depending on their context. The symbolic representation of the peephole, authorship, but make a conscious decision to
on the intersections of those identities. In
doorknob, and threshold in the model were key to understanding our findings. conform to standards in order to exist safely. For
the literature, the experiences of
instance, Sam who was self-authored in many ways
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer
understood the implications of sharing her Queer
(LGBTQ+) students of color is profoundly Participants looked through a symbolic peephole to
identity with her family, but intentionally chose to
underrepresented. In this study, we decide which identities they could safely display leave it at the door, so she could continue to have
sought to understand how, if at all, before they entered a certain space. a relationship with them.
students sexual and racial identities Cristina mentioned that in classes she does Sexual Identity Development (Cass, 1984)
impact their development as college not immediately reveal her queer identity. The intersectionality of identifying both as Queer
students. We focused on undergraduate Recounting an experience in her African and as a Person of Color relates to Cass concept of
students who identified both as Queer American studies class she shared, ...when identity synthesis (Evans et al., 2010). However,
(we use this term to encompass LGBTQ+ this model does not account for the challenges that
someone first sees me, they see Im Black
identities) and as People of Color. come with trying to synthesize multiple salient and
and a woman...When they know that Im marginalized identities. For instance, Cristina
METHODOLOGY Queer, that adds another layer to
it...and whatever misconceptions they
struggled to navigate a way to present both as a
Black woman and as a lesbian.
An intersectional approach was have about being Queerare now put on Developmental Ecology (Bronfenbrenners,1979)
implemented in this study to ensure that me. Our findings were consistent with Bronfenbrenners
we accounted for the multiple contexts Coming out as Queer was perceived by some finding that development is a function of the
in which students experience their interaction of the person and the environment.
participants as impossible due to cultural traditions.
various intersecting identities (Jones &
Abes, 2013). Five semi-structured
Some participants had to leave their Queer identities
behind in order to twist the doorknob to enter
CONCLUSION
interviews were conducted and audio spaces with their families. Current student development theories do not allow
recorded. Participants were asked to for variations in how Queer Students of Color may
complete a short demographic A Vietnamese student, Sam, described many come into their identities in conscious and holistic
questionnaire form. In an effort to of her family members as traditional. ways. Research should be conducted to gain more
One of the reasons Sam did not share with knowledge about the intersection of identities such
understand more about how their as race, ethnicity, and sexual identity, specifically
identities intersect, we asked her family that she was queer, was because
regarding how individuals make decisions about
participants to draw a visual she believed her parents would be blamed
how to present themselves. We would like to
representation of their identities. for raising [her] wrong. emphasize that we do not place value on any
The act of crossing the threshold represents how particular ways in which our participants showed
DEMOGRAPHICS an individual ultimately decides to enter a space.
up in spaces; we are respectful of the manners in
which they chose to present their identities and do
When asked about her experiences in not see any particular approach as more
Sexual developed than another.
Pseudonym
Orientation
Race/Ethnicity Year romantic relationships, Stevie, who is
biracial, shared, [My ex-girlfriend was] References
Stevie Lesbian Black & German Junior
White...I had to compromise who I Baxter Magolda, M. B. (2001). Making their own way: Narratives for
Cristina Lesbian Black Junior transforming higher education to promote self-development. Sterling, VA: Stylus.
was ...I felt like I had to defend myself as Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by
Ezra Gay Mexican Freshman
American & a person because of my skin color...I nature and design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Cass (1979). Homesexual identity formation.: A theoretical model. Journal of
Native American could identify as a lesbian with her, Homosexuality, 4, 219-235.
Front Door Clipart Design 132 [Digital File]. Retrieved from
Sam Asexual Vietnamese Sophomore obviously, but I my Black identity couldnt http://fourscan.com/front-door-clipart-design-1.html
Kelly Pansexual African Senior shine through. Its almost like I had to Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., Guido, F. M., Patton, L. D., & Renn, K. A. (2010).
Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice (2nd ed.). San
American leave one of my identities at the door. Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Jones, S. R. & Abes, E. S. (2013). Intersectionality. In S. R. Jones and E. S. Abes
(Eds.) Identity development of college students: Advancing frameworks for
multiple dimensions of identity, (pp.135-155). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN 2012

www.PosterPresentations.com